AT THE EDGE OF ROMAN EMPIRE

DAY 2 NORTHERN BORDER OF ROMAN EMPIRE: Trojans Wall; Historic crossing of the Danube (Orlivka - Isaccea) and fortress Aliobrix. Night in Izmail

Lower TRAJAN WALL

Traces of a linear earthwork running from the Prut (VadulluiIsac) to Sasykliman (Borisovka), marking part of the northwest boundary of the Roman Empire, can still be seen today. It is 126 km long and was 2 to 3 metres high, with a north-facing ditch 2 to3 metres deep. The earthwork was constructed and restored over a long period of time (from before to after the Roman period) and seems intended to provide protection for the Lower Danube region from northern nomadic peoples such as Scythians, Sarmatians, and Goths. It is popularly known as Trajan’s wall (after Roman Emperor Marcus Ulpius Trajan, ruling 98-117 AD); two villages situated near the Wall are called Old and New Trajan.

Historic DANUBE CROSSING and Aliobrix Fortress

Between Orlovka (Ukraine) and Isaccea (Romania) the mighty River Danube enters a narrow stretch and a finger of higher landthat crosses the floodplain allows a close approach to the river bank. This place is the first point for crossing the Danube upstream of the delta. A fortified settlement on the northern shore was present in prehistoric times. Native Geto-Dacians built a fortress here in the 1st century BC. In the 1st centuryAD the Roman proconsul Marcus Plautius Silvanus took the settlement and built new fortifications, naming the fortress Aliobrix. Archaeological evidence shows that the Roman garrison consisted of legionnaires of the Vth Macedonian Legion and sailors of the Meziyskoy squadron.The school museum in Novoselske village has a collection of coins, pottery and tools from Roman times.

DAY 3 ROMAN ROADS: National and regional Roman roads; Danube Delta. Night in Vylkove

ROMAN ROADS\ROMAN Vassals VILLAGE

The Roman Empire built roads linking all the territories into a single network.Many of these roads are still preserved as they were so well laid. The Roman road from Aliobrix on the Danube runs to modern Kiliya, then turns to Artsiz and on to Tyra (now Belgorod-Dniestrovskiy). Part of the road that runs along the bank of the Kiliya arm of the Danube is still used.
The Roman garrisons also protected several nearby cities, lying between the Trojan Walls. The legionnaires guarded transport links and the local population from attacks by barbarians.

DAY 4 ROMAN TOWNS: Excavations of Tira (Bilgorod-on-Dniester) and Nikonium (Roksolany); Place of ancient Neoptolemus lighthouse (Zatoka).

TYRA - excavations of the town

The Greek colony of Tyra appeared in the 5th Century BC. In the 1st Century AD the Romans took the town under their protection from the Sarmatians and other nomads. Barracks were built, fortifications reconstructed, and ships of the Roman squadron harboured. At various times legionnaires of Vth Macedon, Ist Italian and XIth Claudian legions were stationed here. Traces of a Roman necropolis are also preserved - two crypts romantically called "Scythian" and "Sarmatian" by archaeologists - in which members of the local elite were buried.

NICONIUM: excavations of the town

in 1-3 centuries AD on the left bank of the Dniester liman - just opposite Tyra - there was another city, which was under Roman influence. Founded by the Greeks in the 5th century BC, it continued to be a significant trading and craft center. Excavations are located on the scenic place on a high clay cliff above the liman. And near Ovidiopol is situated a monument to Roman poet Ovid - in the late 18th century it was wrongly believed that his grave was found here.

NEOPTOLEMUS LIGHTHOUSE

The ancient geographer Strabo wrote about the lighthouse of Neoptolemus (son of Achilles), located on the estuary of the Dniester River into the Black Sea. The lighthouse functioned for two hundred years during the Roman presence in Trans-Dneister. There are suggestions that the ruins of the lighthouse now lie under the waters of Dniester liman near Zatoka.

Back to Odessa

Option 2: Tour starts from RENI

Reni - Orlivka - Ismil - Vylkove - Bilgorod-on-Dniester - Odessa–Reni

DAY 1  NORTHERN BORDER OF ROMAN EMPIRE: Trojans Wall; Historic crossing of the Danube (Orlivka - Isaccea) and fortress Aliobrix. Night in Izmail